The Dune Ridge Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park is a lollipop-shaped 0.7-mile trail located in the eastern part of the park. A large (~100 spaces) paved parking lot serves visitors going to Kemil Beach and to hike the Dunes Ridge Trail. When we visited in October 2019, there were only three other vehicles in the lot. A restroom facility with running water is also located in the parking area. This is a free day-use area that is open from 6 AM until 11 PM. The parking lot is located on E State Park Boundary Road, Beverly Shores, Indiana. The trailhead is located at the southeast corner of the lot.
The trail is basically flat with a short, steep climb to the ridge of a dune and a similar descent. A large marsh can be seen from atop the dune.
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| Parking lot and restrooms |
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| Trailhead |
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| Trailhead kiosk |
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| Loose sand walking path |
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| The first dune is completely forested |
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| End of the stem and beginning of the loop |
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| Benches for school groups attending ranger talks |
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| Turning left at the fork |
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| Firmer tread of packed dirt and sand |
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| Turn right at this post |
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| Start the short, steep climb to the ridge |
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| Keep climbing |
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| Still climbing |
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| Just a little bit farther |
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| Still lots of fall color |
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| First view of the marsh |
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| Another dune in the distance |
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| The Great Marsh |
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| Fall colors |
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| Another view of the Great Marsh |
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| Ridgetop trail |
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| Another view of the fall colors on the dune and marsh |
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| Many trees have already lost their leaves |
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| A final view of the marsh |
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| Trailside color |
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| Beginning the descent |
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| Continuing the descent |
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| Ferns |
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| Back in the interdune area |
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| Open forest |
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| A dense, young forest |
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| Back at the fork and the benches |
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| Returning to the trailhead |
Entry to Indiana Dunes National Park is free. However, an expanded amenity fee of $6 daily is collected at West Beach from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend from 8:00 am to as late as 7:00 pm Central Time. This fee is used to provide the bathhouse and lifeguard service.
The Dune Ridge Trail webpage is https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/dr16.htm.
The park website is https://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm.
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